Mumbai: Shiv Sena grabs poll pundit Prashant Kishor Kishor for ‘right optics’

Mumbai: Shiv Sena grabs poll pundit Prashant Kishor Kishor for ‘right optics’

FPJ Political BureauUpdated: Wednesday, May 29, 2019, 02:47 AM IST
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Mumbai: A meeting between election strategist Prashant Kishor and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, at the latter’s residence ‘Matoshree,’ on Tuesday, has raised eyebrows in political circles. Prashant is vice-president of the Janata Dal (United), led by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.

Kishor has reportedly offered to share his expertise with the Sena for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. However, he clarified he would not play any role in a possible alliance between the Sena and the BJP or try to bring the Sena closer to the JD(U). Kishor called on Uddhav at a time when all the Sena Members of Parliament were gathered for a meeting.

Kishore carries with him a political baggage and is credited with having delivered election victories for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar. If he extends a helping hand to the Sena, the optics are good for creating the right atmosphere for a party reaching out to all segments of society. According to a senior party MP, the issue of pre-poll alliance with the BJP was not discussed at the meeting.

“Uddhav introduced Pra-shant to the MPs. Prashant advised them to take up local issues and promised them strategic help in campaign planning and media management,” said the MP.  The MP said Uddhav Thackeray had insisted the party should set a goal to have a Sena chief minister in the state. “If you start working now, we can achieve the goal by the time of the assembly elections,” the MP quoted Uddhav Thackeray as saying.

He, however, denied the possibility of the Sena and the Janata Dal (United) opening a front against the BJP. Another Sena leader said, “Nitish Kumar is an ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Prashant Kishor has been given rights on seat-sharing with the BJP.

It is possible Prashant is a mediator from Shah and tried to convince Uddhav about forging an alliance with the BJP for the general polls.” “However, Kishor has made it clear that he will not play any role in a possible alliance between the Sena and the BJP or bring the Sena and the JDU closer. His activities will be limited to the Sena’s election strategy in Maharashtra only,” claimed the MP.

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